'I can finally live a normal life'

Two years ago, Finley Hill spent Christmas in hospital with just medical staff and close family for company

A 12-year-old with a rare blood disorder, who underwent two stem cell transplants to save his life, has said he finally feels able to enjoy a "normal life".

Two years ago, Finley Hill, from Belbroughton, Worcestershire, was in hospital over Christmas, spending weeks with just medical staff and close family for company.

He was undergoing a second stem cell transplant, after first being diagnosed with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in 2019.

Speaking to BBC Radio WM this week, he said he owed his life to the staff at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

"There isn't enough words to describe how much we want to say thank you," the youngster said.

"There isn't any words in the vocabulary in the whole of earth that we could [find to] say thank you."

All the staff at the children's hospital had a "very special way" with the patients, his dad said.

"They're all heroes too, honestly," his mum, Jo, added.

"Every time we go back for an appointment or a check-up or bloods [tests]... it's never not nice to go back - they're so wonderful there," she said.

"It's like a hug, going back."

Finley, better know as Finn, has now started secondary school and has aspirations of being a performer.

"I really like acting, and one day I would like to be an actor," he said.

He is due to perform on stage in January in Birmingham Youth Theatre's production of Snow White at the Crescent Theatre.

It's a huge turnaround from when his life seemed in the balance, until matching stem cell donor was found in Brazil in 2019.

That transplant ultimately needed to be replaced two years later, this time a different donor, but also based in Brazil.

Finn and his family have been raising and money and awareness for international charity DKMS

Since then, Finn has been the face of a campaign to urge people to become stem cell donors.

He has also been raising money and awareness for DKMS - an international charity dedicated to tackling blood cancer and blood disorders.

He and his mum have been sharing Finn's treatment journey on Facebook and Instagram.

"Only 2% of people in the UK are on the register. We really need to do more to change those numbers," Ms Hill said.

This week marks two years since Finn's second transplant.

"It's a great thing to celebrate... it's in the past," he said.

He had these words for other young people going through similar treatment: "Eventually you're going to get through it.

"Whoever you are, I believe in you and you're going to get through it and on the other side you're going to have an amazing life."